Closure device

ABSTRACT

A closure device for sealing the opening of a refillable container, the closure device including spaced pressure members having a soft resiliently deformable washer member sandwiched therebetween, and a tightening member engageable with a neck portion of one of the pressure members for drawing the pressure members together. Tightening apparatus for the closure device includes a wrench engageable with the tightening member and a key member engageable with the pressure member neck portion for holding the closure device in fixed position during movement of the tightening member by the wrench.

United States Patent 1191 Wehmeyer 1451 Feb. 26, 1974 [54] CLOSURE DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 lnvemorl Eugene Wehmeyel', c/0 Provident 451,122 9/1948 Canada 215/54 T061 Engineering CO., 4501 Swan 88,661 9/1896 Germany.....- 214/108 Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63110 530,016 12/1940 Great Britain 220/24.5 545,645 3 1932 G 220 24.5 1221 Filed: Aug. 13, 1971 I many [52] US. Cl 220/24.5, 217/78, 217/109,

' 220/39 C [51] Int. Cl B65d 39/12 [58] Field of Search. 220/24.5, 55 C, 39 C; 217/78, 217/108, 109, 79; 215/54; 277/112 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 625,653 5/1899 Dies et a1 ..1 217/109 640,302 1/1900 Mueller et a1. 217/109 1,065,896 6/1913 Carter 215/54 1,903,168 3/1933 Cordrey 220/24.5

2,396,027 3/1946 Spayd 217/109 2,566,816 9/1951 'Work 215/54 UX 2,773,619 12/1956 Moeller 220/24.5 3.447.712 6/1969 Galasso et a1 220/24.5

Appl. No.: 171,641

Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus [57] ABSTRACT A closure device for sealing the opening of a refillable container, the closure device including spaced pressure members having a soft resiliently deformable washer member sandwiched therebetween, and a tightening member engageable with a neck portion of one of the pressure members for drawing the pressure members together. Tightening apparatus for the closure device includes a wrench engageable with the tightening member and a key member engageable with the pressure member neck portion for holding the closure device in fixed position during movement of the tightening member by the wrench.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 'CLOSURE DEVICE This invention is directed -to new and useful improvements in closure devices for refillable containers and more particularly to a bung for use with barrels that contain pressurized fluid such as beer.

One type of known beer barrel includes a bunghole at the top or sidethereof and a tapping device generally located near the bottom of the barrel. The beer barrel is filled through the bunghole which is then provided with a fluid-tight seal and the contained beer is dispensed through the tapping device.

A common method for sealing the beer barrel at the bunghole involves forcing a tapered wooden stake, generally made of beechwood, through the bunghole up to a point where the stake is press-fitted therein. A usual way of urging the stake into sealing relationship with the bunghole is to stroke one end thereof with a hammer. One or two hammer blows are generally sufficient.

However, oftentimes a stake is not struck properly andis driven into the bunghole at an unacceptable angle which prevents the bunghole from being adequately sealed. Further blows to the stake generally do not remedy the situation. Consequently the stake must be removed, usually by splintering it into the barrel and fishing out the splintered parts, a procedure that often contaminates the beer. Thus the beer must be emptied and discarded and the barrel refilled with a fresh supply. Another problem encountered in using wooden stakes to seal the bungholes is the cracking of stakes as they are driven into the bunghole. This cracked condition also prevents the bunghole from being adequately sealed and dictates removal of the stake, risking contamination of the barrel contents which again requires refilling the barrel. Furthermore, even if the wooden stake provides an adequate seal it must be removed after the barrel contents have been consumed so that the barrel can be refilled. Such removal necessitates destruction of the bunghole stake and replacement with a new stake. Consequently natural resources must continuously be made available to provide a fresh supply of stakes which offer only a single use. I

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a novel closure device; a novel closure device which can be used repeatedly; a novel closure device having means for controlling the sealing strength thereof; a novel closure device which can provide a seal of predetermined strength; a novel closure device which can be installed with a wrench; a novel closure device which does not slip around a bunghole during sealing thereof; and a novel closure device having a pressure member that can be held in fixed position in a bunghole while a pressure seal is obtained. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The present invention relates to a novel closure or bung device for sealing a bunghole in a barrel or other refillable container. In one embodiment of the invention the bung comprises spaced pressure members having a resiliently deformable washer member sandwiched therebetween. One of the pressure members includes a threaded neck portion that extends through the deformable washer and also extends through the second pressure member projecting upwardly therefrom. A locknut is threaded around the neck portion over the second pressure member to draw the pressure members together. The bung assembly is disposed in the bunghole and the locknut tightened around the threaded neck portion with a wrench. A socket-like recess is provided at the projecting end of the neck for engagement with a key member of complementary configuration during tightening of the locknut. In this manner the locknut can be tightened without causing the bung assembly to slip around the bunghole during rotation of the locknut by the wrench.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

'ln the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments. of the invention is illustrated, l

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a beer barrel having mounted thereon a closure device incorporating one embodiment of the present invention;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of F IG. 1, the closure device being shown in combination with tightening apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the closure device partly shown in section prior to insertion thereof into a bunghole; V v

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wrench portion of the tightening apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the key member portion of the tightening apparatus.

Corresponding referencev characters indicate corre- I wiched between pressure members 12 and '14. Washer 16 has a tapered periphery 18 defining a major bearing surface 20 and a minor bearing surface 22. Movable pressuremember 14 includes an elongated neck portion 24 extending through apertures 26 and 28, provided inthe central portions of washer'l6 andfixed pressure member 12, respectively. A dished generally circular pressure plate 30 is formed or welded at one end of neck portion 24. Plate 30 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of minor bearing surface 22 of washer 16. Plate 30 also includes a convex surface. 32 that diverges into a flatannular surface 34. A generally square recessed socket hole 36 is formed in the free end of neck 24, the neck' being threaded from its free 'end for substantially the entire length thereof. Pressure. member 12 comprises a pressure base 38 having a tapered peripheral rim 40. Rim 40 terminates in a flat annular flange 41 flaring outwardly therefrom, which flange is substantially parallel to base 38. Pressure base 38 also has an annular boss surface 44 confronting major surface 20 of washer 16. The diameter of pressurebase 38 is substantially equal to the diameter of washer bearing surface 20 such that when washer 16 is stacked against fixed pressure member 12, as shown in FIG. 3, tapered periphery 18 of washer l6 and tapered rim 4.0 of pressure member 12 form a substantially continuous tapered surface.

Bung further includes a tightening member such as a locknut 42 threaded to neck portion 24 over base 38 of fixed pressure member 12. Rotation of locknut 42 in one direction urges pressure member 14 toward pressure member 12 to eventually deform washer 16 such that washer periphery l8 bulges outwardly (not shown) with respect to tapered rim and plate 30.

A substantially flat generally circular annular holding member 46 (FIG. 2) made of plastic or any other suitable resilient material, has an opening 48 formed of complementary configuration with the polygonal periphery of locknut 42 for engagement thereon. The outer diameter of holding member 46 is slightly larger than the minor inner diameter of rim 40 in order that holding member 46, upon engaging locknut 42, can be press-fitted against rim 40.

The tightening apparatus for bung 10 comprises a wrench 50 having a wrench socket 52 sized to engage locknut 42 and detachably secured to a socket drive 53. The tightening apparatus further includes a key member 54 having a generally square key stem 55 sized to engage square hole 36 in neck 24. Wrench 50 is provided with an opening 56 extending through socket drive 53. Opening 56 is of a diameter that permits key stem 55 to be inserted therein and rotated. Consequently wrench 50 and wrench socket 52 can be turned freely with respect to key stem 55.

In use, bung 10, the parts thereof being loosely assembled as shown in H0. 3 (minus holding member 46), is disposed in a bunghole 58 of a barrel 60 such that flange 41 of pressure member 12 bears against the barrel surface bordering bunghole 58. Preferably bunghole 58 has a complementary tapered surface 62 similar to that of rim 40 and washer periphery 18. Hole 58 is also of a size that will accommodate loosely assembled bung 10 without force. Wrench 50 is positioned over locknut 42 to permit wrench socket 52 to engage locknut 42. Key stem 55 is inserted through opening 56 in wrench 50 for engagement with square hole 36 of neck 24. Under this arrangement wrench 50 can rotate locknut 42 against base 38 of pressure member 12 while key stem 55 holds neck 24 in fixed position during rotation of locknut 42. In this manner movable pressure member 14 is drawn toward fixed pressure member 12 to deform washer l6. Annular boss 44 of pressure member 12 serves toincrease the deformation of washer 16. The engagement of key stem 55 with recessed socket 36 of neck 24 prevents bung assembly 10 from slipping around bunghole 58 during tightening of locknut 42. When locknut 42 has been tightened sufficiently to ensure an adequate seal of bunghole 58, holding member 46 is inserted around locknut 42. If desired, holding member 46 can be color coded to identify the type of beer, for instance, contained inside barrel 60.

The strength of the bung seal is proportional to the number of times locknut 42 has been turned against base 38 ofpressure member 12, starting from a position wherein members 12 and 14 just contact washer 16. Consequently, by counting the number of times lock nut 42 is turned, the bung sealing strength can be predetermined. If desired, neck portion 24 can be marked to indicate a point to which locknut 42 is to be threaded, or the turning torque of wrench 50 can be measured, all of which serve as an aid to predetermining the bung seal strength.

As is evident from FIG. 2, a fluid-tight seal is obtained by the deformation of washer 16 against convex surface 32, flat annular surface 34 and bunghole tapered surface 62. Further, scaling is obtained by the deformation of washer 16 against pressure base 38 of pressure member 12. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that washer 16, during deformation, is likely to bulge at its aperture 26 as well as at its tapered periphery 18. Since the fluid-tight seal is derived in part from deformation of washer 16 toward tapered surface 62 of bunghole 58, it is desirable to concentrate this washer deformation in the direction of surface 62. To this end an annular collar 64 is provided on locknut 42, depending therefrom through aperture 28 of pressure member 14. Under this arrangement, as locknut 42 is tightened, collar 64 will move along neck 24 against washer 16 near washer aperture 26. Consequently collar 64 prevents washer 16 from bulging into aperture 28 of pressure member 12 and thereby concentrates the deformation of washer 16 toward surface 62 of bunghole 58.

Some advantages of the novel bung device that are evident from the foregoing description include a reuseable bung structure, a bung structure wherein the sealing strength can be predetermined, a bung structure objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above con structions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure device for insertion into an opening to seal the opening, said device comprising spaced pressure members, a deformable washer member sandwiched between said pressure members, one of said pressure members having a neck portion extending through said. washer member and through an aperture in said other pressure member, said closure device further including a tightening member mounted on said neck portion for drawing said pressure members together against said washer todeform said washer member such that said washer member bears against the sides of said opening for affixation therein, said closure device further including means for moving said tightening member with respect to said neck'portion, and meansfor maintaining said neck portion in fixed position with respectto said tightening member during movement of said tightening member, said tightening member comprising a locknut threadably secured to said neck portion, said locknut including a depending collar formed to extend into the aperture of said other pressure member, said collar being engageable with said washer to bear againstsaid washer when said tight ening member causes said pressure members to bear against said washer.

2. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tightening member is threadably secured to said neck portion, rotation of said tightening member in one direction with respect to said neck portion moving said one of said pressure members toward said washer and said other pressure member:'

3. A closure device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining said neck portion in fixed position include a complementary socket means component engageable with a key means component.

4. A closure device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said neck portion includes one of said components, the other said component being detachably engageable with said one of said components, engagement of said components permitting said neck portion to be maintained in fixed position during rotational movement of said tightening member on said neck portion.

5. A closure device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tightening member comprises a locknut and said means for moving said tightening member comprise a wrench engageable with said locknut for rotating said locknut with respect to said neck portion, engagement of'said socket means component and said key means component permitting said neck portion to be maintained in fixed position during rotation of said locknut.

.6. A closure device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said socket means component is provided on said neck portion, said key means component extending through an opening in said wrench for engagement with said socket means component such that said wrench is freely rotatable about said key means component.

7. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said washer includes an aperture through which said neck portion extends, said collar formed to bear against said washer near said washer aperture to prevent said washer from deforming into the aperture of said other pressure member whereby the deformation of said washer is concentrated toward the sides of said opening. I

8. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said other pressure member includes a substantially planar surface confronting said washer, said planar surface having a protruding portion thereof for deforming the confronting surface area of said washer.

9. A closure device as claimed in claim 8'wherein said protruding portion is an annular bo'ss surface.

10. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the peripheral surface of said one of said pressure members and said washer in stacked position are aligned to form a single substantially continuous peripheral surface.

11. A closure device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the substantially continuous peripheral surface of said one of said pressure members and said washer are tapered.

12. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 further including a substantially flat resilient holding member having an aperture formed for disposition around said tightening member and an outer periphery arranged to bear against said other pressure member to restrain movement of said tightening member with respect to said neck portion.

13. A closure device for insertion into an opening to seal the opening, said device comprising spaced pressure members, a deformable washer member sandwiched between said pressure members, one of said pressure members having a neck portion extending through said washer member and said other pressure member, said closure device further including a tightening member mounted on said neck portion for drawing said pressure members together against said washer to deform said washer member such that said washer member bears against the sides of said opening for affixation therein, said closure device further including means for moving said tightening member with respect to said neck portion, and means for maintaining said neck portion in fixed position with respect to said tightening member during movement of said tightening member, said other pressure member having a projecting annular rim, said tightening member having a polygonal periphery disposed in the space defined by said annular rim, said closure device further including a substantially'flat annular holding member formed for emplacement intermediate 'said annular rim and the polygonal periphery of said tightening member, said holding member making resilient contact with said rim and the polygonal periphery of said tightening member for holding said tightening member in fixed position with respect'to said neck portion.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION,

Patent No. a 20,4 Dated February InVentor( ug E Wehmeyer It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby'corrected as shown below:

[76], lines 1 & 2, "Provident Tool Engineering Co." should read Provident Tool & Engineering Co.

The classfand subclass of the German reference given as "ZN/108'! should readr-n-w2l7/li08 t Y Claim 8, line 4, "thereof" should read thereon Signed sealed this 18th day of une (SEAL) Atteatz- EDWARD H.FLETCHER, JR. C; 'MARSHALLDANN Attesting Off-leer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-59) I uscoMM-Dc 60376 9 fi' UTSPG QVEIKIINT PRINTING OFFICE 1 19. 0-3 l k 

1. A closure device for insertion into an opening to seal the opening, said device comprising spaced pressure members, a deformable washer member sandwiched between said pressure members, one of said pressure members having a neck portion extending through said washer member and through an aperture in said other pressure member, said closure device further including a tightening member mounted on said neck portion for drawing said pressure members together against said washer to deform said washer member such that said washer member bears against the sides of said opening for affixation therein, said closure device further including means for moving said tightening member with respect to said neck portion, and means for maintaining said neck portion in fixed position with respect to said tightening member during movement of said tightening member, said tightening member comprising a locknut threadably secured to said neck portion, said locknut including a depending collar formed to extend into the aperture of said other pressure member, said collar being engageable with said washer to bear against said washer when said tightening member causes said pressure members to bear against said washer.
 2. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tightening member is threadably secured to said neck portion, rotation of said tightening member in one direction with respect to said neck portion moving said one of said pressure members toward said washer and said other pressure member.
 3. A closure device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining said neck portion in fixed position include a complementary socket means component engageable with a key means component.
 4. A closure device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said neck portion includes one of said components, the other said component being detachably engageable with said one of said components, engagement of said components permitting said neck portion to be maintained in fixed position during rotational movement of said tightening member on said neck portion.
 5. A closure device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tightening member comprises a locknut and said means for moving said tightening member comprise a wrench engageable with said locknut for rotating said locknut with respect to said neck portion, engagement of said socket means component and said key means component permitting said neck portion to be maintained in fixed position during rotation of said locknut.
 6. A closure device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said socket means component is provided on said neck portion, said key means component extending through an opening in said wrench for engagement with said socket means component such that said wrench is freely rotatable about said key means component.
 7. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said washer includes an aperture through which said neck portion extends, said collar formed to bear against said washer near said washer aperture to prevent said washer from deforming into the aperture of said other pressure member whereby the deformation of said washer is concentrated toward the sides of said opening.
 8. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said other pressure member includes a substantially planar surface confronting said washer, said planar surface having a protruding portion thereof for deforming the confronting surface area of said washer.
 9. A closure device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said protruding portion is an annular boss surface.
 10. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the peripheral surface of said one of said pressure members and said washer in stacked position are aligned to form a single substantially continuous peripheral surface.
 11. A closure device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the substantially continuous peripheral surface of said one of said pressure members and said washer are tapered.
 12. A closure device as claimed in claim 1 further including a substantially flat resilient holding member having an aperture formed for disposition around said tightening member and an outer periphery arranged to bear against said other pressure member to restrain movement of said tightening member with respect to said neck portion.
 13. A closure device for insertion into an opening to seal the opening, said device comprising spaced pressure members, a deformable washer member sandwiched between said pressure members, one of said pressure members having a neck portion extending through said washer member and said other pressure member, said closure device further including a tightening member mounted on said neck portion for drawing said pressure members together against said washer to deform said washer member such that said washer member bears against the sides of said opening for affixation therein, said closure device further including means for moving said tightening member with respect to said neck portion, and means for maintaining said neck portion in fixed position with respect to said tightening member during movement of said tightening member, said other pressure member having a projecting annular rim, said tightening member having a polygonal periphery disposed in the space defined by said annular rim, said closure device further including a substantially flat annular holding member formed for emplacement intermediate said annular rim and the polygonal periphery of said tightening member, said holding member making resilient contact with said rim and the polygonal periphery of said tightening member for holding said tightening member in fixed position with respect to said neck portion. 